Jalmari Helander: From Finnish Dreams to Global Action Cinema

Filmmaker Jalmari Helander realized his passion for action cinema in childhood but faced challenges in Finland, a country with no big-budget action film tradition. Helander's journey led to movies like ''Sisu: Road to Revenge''. He's working on a prequel to the ''Rambo'' franchise, starring Noah Centineo.

Jalmari Helander, a Finnish filmmaker with a deep-rooted love for action cinema, has defied odds to carve a niche for himself in the global action film industry. Growing up in Finland, a country devoid of a big-budget action film tradition, Helander faced significant hurdles in pursuing his passion.

His fascination with action movies, particularly James Bond films, began in childhood, sparking his desire to become an action director by age 11. With Finland's small population and lack of resources for large-scale productions, the dream seemed unattainable. However, Helander persisted, embarking on a filmmaking career that saw him direct hits like ''Rare Exports'', ''Big Game'', and the popular ''Sisu'' series.

Helander is now engaged in an exciting project, a prequel to the famed ''Rambo'' franchise titled ''John Rambo''. Actor Noah Centineo takes on the iconic role, originally played by Sylvester Stallone. Set in Bangkok, Helander is eager to blend the beloved elements of ''Rambo'' with his unique filmmaking style.

(With inputs from agencies.)